YouthChat Educator

Join YouthCHAT and help shape how healthcare professionals work with teens and young adults! We're looking for YouthCHAT Educators/Actors to help train current and future doctors, nurses, and healthcare professionals to provide great adolescent care.

As a YouthCHAT Educator, you'll play a crucial role as a simulated patient during training sessions, giving medical/nursing students practice talking to young people in a "real-life" setting. YouthCHAT Educators will work with medical faculty to develop a character that is a teen or young adult patient with a health concern. During educational sessions, "patients" role play with the medical/nursing student as though they are in a clinical setting. (For example, they will ask you questions about things such as school, relationships, your choices around alcohol or drug use, etc and you will answer as the character you have developed). After each session, you'll give feedback to help them improve their communication and interviewing skills.

Along with training sessions, you'll also be part of our youth advisory board. Here, you'll share your thoughts and ideas on projects and research impacting adolescent health. Examples of the topics that may be discussed include youth experiencing homelessness, LGBTQIA health care, justice-involved youth, sexuality education, gender & sexual health, and general adolescent health and wellness. Your input will directly impact how these projects are carried out and what they achieve.

Primary Responsibilities:
Participate in 1 or 2 - 2 hr sessions per month which includes the practice clinical interview with medical/nursing/other clinical trainee (40%)
Attend a series of orientation / training sessions to develop skills necessary to support healthcare professionals in clinical interview skills and communication. (10%)
Provide thoughtful and specific feedback to clinical trainee during session about how they might improve their clinical interview skills (5%)
Work with YouthCHAT staff to develop teen/young adult patient "character" (5%)
Meet with YouthCHAT staff to discuss program, address concerns, make adjustments to "character" etc. as needed (3%)
Respond promptly to requests for participation in "role play" training sessions (5%)
Attend monthly 2 hour Youth Advisory Board meetings which include presentations of adolescent health-related projects in progress. Provide input and guidance on those projects to staff & faculty as requested (20%)
Provide constructive feedback to YouthCHAT staff regarding program development and other topics as requested. (10%)
Keep track of hours, complete required paperwork, and maintain other tasks required by University of Minnesota for employment & payment (2%)

All required qualifications must be documented on application materials

Required Qualifications:
High school diploma or equivalent
Ability to represent voice & perspectives of young people ages 14-22
Ability to work virtually and synchronously during typical work days as needed
Availability in afternoon/evenings 1x per month for Advisory Board meetings
Comfort with discussing sensitive health topics, such as sexual health, mental health & substance use
Interest in improving health care for adolescents and working with healthcare professionals.
Organized, responsible, and detail-oriented
Commitment to centering equity and to creating an inclusive, anti-oppressive, and safe work environment for all
Willingness to strengthen verbal and written communication skills

Preferred Qualifications:
Acting and/or peer educator experience (volunteer or personal experience is welcome)
Experience working on efforts related to adolescent health or youth development (volunteer or personal experience is welcome)
Ability to attend in-person meetings on Twin Cities campus on a periodic basis
Comfort and proficiency with computer programs such as: Zoom, Google suite, etc.

Centering Justice, Equity and Inclusion:
The team is committed to centering equity in our work.
The team will aim to reflect the rich diversity of the youth and communities with whom we work in our Division and clinical care. This team will work to ensure representation on the team from people who identify as BIPOC and LGBTQ.
Priority will be given to applicants who represent & reflect the identities and lived experience of the diversity of young people the program aims to reach.

About YouthCHAT:
YouthCHAT is an innovative, youth-engaged approach for training current and future health care professionals who strive to provide developmentally appropriate, culturally-relevant, youth-friendly, trauma-informed and strengths-based adolescent health services.

YouthCHAT is housed in The Division of General Pediatrics & Adolescent Health (DoGPAH) in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Minnesota Medical School. DoGPAH is committed to achieving health, justice, and positive development for all children, youth, and families through community-centered health care, research, education, and advocacy.

For more inofrmation:
https://med.umn.edu/pediatrics/divisions/general-pediatrics-and-adolescent-health/programs-and-centers/YouthCHAT-program

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by the Star Tribune as a Top Workplace for 2021, as well as by Forbes as Best Employers for Women and one of America's Best Employers (2015, 2018, 2019, 2023), Best Employer for Diversity (2019, 2020), Best Employer for New Grads (2018, 2019), and Best Employer by State (2019, 2022).